Hopkinton board is frustrated over lack of response on casino details

Friday

Mar 8, 2013 at 12:01 AMMar 8, 2013 at 8:05 AM

More than a month after Hopkinton selectmen filed a public records request with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission seeking copies of the 11 casino applications, the commission hasn't complied and the town is appealing.

Laura Krantz/Daily News staff

More than a month after Hopkinton selectmen filed a public records request with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission seeking copies of the 11 casino applications, the commission hasn't complied and the town is appealing.

Town officials filed an appeal March 1 with the state Supervisor of Records, demanding the Gaming Commission release the records.

"Not only is it frustrating, it is inappropriate," Selectmen Chairman Ben Palleiko said Thursday.

Hopkinton, and officials in some nearby communities, are wary of developer David Nunes’ proposal to land a casino in Milford and selectmen said they want insight into the competition Nunes faces from other casino hopefuls.

The Gaming Commission is charged with ultimately awarding three casino licenses in the state.

Hopkinton town attorney J. Raymond Miyares on Jan. 29 sent the original public record request from the Board of Selectmen to Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby, seeking all 11 Gaming License Phase 1 applications.

On Feb. 1, Todd Grossman, a Gaming Commission attorney, replied by e-mail to Miyares, saying the commission was gathering redacted versions from the applicants.

"There is most certainly information contained in the requested materials that is public and that will be provided to you," Grossman wrote. He said once collected and redacted, the information would be released to Hopkinton and others.

Grossman said the records release would be discussed at the Gaming Commission’s Feb. 7 meeting, but after a month of no response, the town appealed the decision to Secretary of the State William Galvin’s public records division.

"Asking for information should not be a problem when you’re dealing with a project of this magnitude and the potential impact it entails," Palleiko said.

The town manager’s office Thursday said it has not received a response from the state. Grossman did not respond to a call for comment on Thurdsay.

Laura Krantz can be reached at 508-626-4429 or lkrantz@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurakrantzmwdn.